PRINCETON — Fire safety during the winter months is the focus of the “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” campaign by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

The joint promotion targets both home heating concerns and safe cooking practices, which are the two leading causes of home fires in the United States, according to NFPA President Jim Shannon. Both types of fires peak during the winter months, but fortunately both home heating and cooking fires are largely preventable with some basic guidelines in place, he said.

Locally, Princeton Fire Chief Chuck Woolley said the winter months do not necessarily mean there will be an increased number of structure fires, but the potential is greater with people using their furnaces and space heaters.